Last Word

He died
A full man
It was a Wednesday
(just after prayer meeting)

He thanked his wife
for loving the gap in his front teeth
for making him collard greens on Sunday
(Though she preferred kale)

for Sunday evening walks on concrete,
(Though she dreamed of a life near water)

He thanked Grace for
showing him how to love the way prayer
folds silence into the air—

then he bowed his head
(-leaving her full)

Ramona L. Hyman, PhD
Copyright© 2015